Neil Lennon insisted winning nine-in-row next season will matter more to Celtic than making the Champions League.
The Parkhead boss, fresh from landing the job on a permanent basis within minutes of clinching the treble Treble on Saturday, will set his team up for a tilt at making the group stages of Europe’s elite competition - although they’ll have to negotiate four qualifying rounds - but he’s in no doubt that his priority is to keep Rangers at arm’s length in the chase for next term’s title.
Lennon said: “First and foremost the priority is the league championship and then you work around that from here on in.
“We were nine points clear at the end of the season. There is no doubt there is a marked improvement in Rangers but you would expect that and we have to try to endeavour to stay that bit further ahead. I think that’s the whole remit.
“But the Champions League would be fantastic. It’s brilliant for the club, the players, me and my coaching staff. It can only help you and develop you but it’s a very difficult thing to do, we have eight games before we can qualify.
“We have to hit the ground running very, very early and again that’s going to be difficult but we’re going to have to get the right players in as quickly as possible and that can be difficult as well.”
